Trace-carrier



R'.PORTER.-

TRACE CARRIER.

Patented Apr. 24. 1883.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT PORTER, 0F OTTUMWA, IOWA.

TRACE-CARRIER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of .Letters Patent No. 276,461, dated April 24, 1883.

' Application filed February 7, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ROBERT PORTER, of Ottnmwa, in the county of Wapello and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful 1m: provement in Trace-Carriers for Harness,which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification.

This invention relates to trace carriers for holding up the ends of the traces when the latter are not in use, the said carrier comprisingaframe which is connected with the harness and one or more keepers, on which the cock eyes or loops at the end of the traces are secured. Ordinarily the carrier serves as a connection between the back-strap, crapper, and hip-straps, although it is sometimes placed on other parts of the harness.

The invention comprises certain new-constructions and arrangements of the frame and keepers, (which latter are in the form of hooks,) whereby a neat, light,and small carrier, which will securely hold the cockeyes or traces, while allowing their ready removal and replacement, and which does not require the guards commonly employed to prevent the fouling of the lines or reins with the carrier, is produced. Each hooked keeper serves as a guard to theother.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a plan View of a trace-carrier constructed in accordance with the invention, the harness-straps and coekeyes being shown in dotted lines; Fig. 2, a perspective view of the carrier detached; Fig. 3, a section of the same on line it m, Fig. 1; Fig. 4, a perspective view of .another form of trace; Fig. 5, a plan of a third form; Fig. 6, a perspective of a fourth form,

and Fig. 7 a plan of still another form.

In all the figures, A is the frame of the carrier, and B the keepers. Each frame has two keepers which overlap at the ends and are substantially parallel. They (the keepers) each comprise an upright, a, and a hook, I), which is not only curved downward, but also bent outward at or near the end. In Figs. 5 and 6 the hooks are plain on both sides. In Figs. 1, 2, and 3 one of the keepers has an additional or auxiliary hook, c, on the inner side of the keeper, or side opposite from the main hook b. The other keeper has a knob, d, on the outer side. In Fig. 4 one of the keepers has the additional or auxiliary hook on the inner side, and the other has a return-bend, c, which may be considered as an equivalent of a knob or book additional to the main hook I). In Fig.

7 one keeper has a hook, f, additional to the main hook b, and on the outer side or same side with the main hook. The other keeper has a hook, c, on the opposite side, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. Any two of the keepers shown may be used together, they being alike or unlike, as may be preferred. In Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 7 it will be noticed that one keeper has a book, 0, on the inside, while the inside of the other keeper is plain.

The frame in Figs. 1, 3, also in Fig. 5, is of the improved construction, and comprises a ring, 9 h i k, and side cross-bars, l m, said cross-bars extending in the same general direction and snbtending each an arc of about ninety degrees.

The-back-strap O and crapper-fork D may be connected with the ring at the points h it,

but are preferably connected with it at the points 9 '5, respectively, so that the cross-bars l m are parallel with the line of the back-strap.

The hipstraps E are connected with the ring at the points It 7c. The keepers B are attached each to one of the cross-bars 1m, and project toward the opposite cross-bar and. toward the ring. The points of the hooks b are brought to ornearlyto the level of the top of theframe. They are a sufficient distance in a horizontal plane from the cross-bars and ring to permit the introduction of the cockeyes (shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1) between them. Instead of being fastened in the middle of the cross-bars, as they may be, the keepers are preferably fastened on one side of it, as shown. The line connecting the bars is thus oblique to the crossbars I m. The keeper fastened to the cross-bar ward the tail of the horse; but it could be turned toward the head of the animal.

In Fig. t'the frame is oblong and rectangular, and has loops a for the hip-straps, the back-strap and crapper-fork being attached to the ends of the oblong. In Fig. 7 the frame is curved at the front. It also is provided with loops at for the hipstrap and has aloop, 1), for the back-strap. All the frames m on the off side is represented as turned to- ICO thus far described have an oblongcen tral opening. The frame shown in Fig. 6 is mainly designed for usetin harness having no hip-straps. It is simply a plate which is riveted, screwed, or otherwise fastened to the back-strap or to other suitable part of the harness. If used on a hip-strap harness it would ordinarily be fastened to the pad under the ring, which connects together the hip-straps, back-strap, and crupper-fork.

Any of the keepers may be used with any of the frames shown or with other suitable frames, and theimproved frame may be used with other keepers. The frame and the keepers may in any case be so combined and connected together that the keeper on the off side turns either toward the tailof the animal or towart its head, as may be preferred;

It is preferred to cast the whole carrier in one piece; but it may be made in two or more pieces riveted or otherwise fastened together.

In Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 5 the keepers could be fastened to the ring instead of to the crossbars, and other modifications may be made Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having now fully described the said invention and the manner of carrying the same into effect, what I claim is-- 1. A trace-carrier comprising a ring with interior side bars in the plane of the ring, so as to constitute a flat frame, in combination with upright overlapping hooked keepers attached to said side bars, substantially as described.

2. A trace-carrier comprising a flat frame, in combination with upright overlapping and substantially hooked keepers, substantially as described.

3. In a trace-carrier and in combination with the frame thereof, the upright hooked keepers facing in opposite directions and bent at the ends away from each other to facilitate theinsertion of the cockeyes over the ends of the hooks, substantially as described.

4. Ina trace-carrier and in combination with the frame thereof, a hooked keeper having the point of the hook brought into proximity with the frame to prevent the rein from catching under it, and provided, in addition to the main hook, with a knob, a second hook, or their specified equivalent, the more securely to retain the cockeye in position,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT PORTER.

Witnesses: G. A. WITTER,

U. T. PORTER. 

